Here's something else that may not work for you either -- my machine has a push botton start/stop button so I don't use the foot pedal. I sit on a stool to quilt with my feet on the bottom rung -until I can get something better anyway. Susan - I think you are extremely tall - I'm a shade under 5'.

Here's something else that may not work for you either -- my machine has a push botton start/stop button so I don't use the foot pedal. I sit on a stool to quilt with my feet on the bottom rung -until I can get something better anyway. Susan - I think you are extremely tall - I'm a shade under 5'.

My Viking dealer taught me this trick--get machine set the way I want it --even the speed as I found a medium speed was too slow and the highest too fast so in between works best for me and then do the start/stop button and if I want to stop I hit the foot pedal.

Thank you for this wonderful information. I am a beginner quilter and will be undertaking my first FMQ quilt. Our instructor said many of the same things that have been mentioned but it is really nice to have others make the same recommendations. Her comment was to make another block using the leftovers from our quilt, and use it as a test - that way we could be practicing with our quilt fabrics but not the real quilt.

LOVE your daisies! Remember that you are looking at every single stitch in every single flower. No one else will do that! A more primitive flower here and there will be completely okay and will add to the charm of your heart-made piece.

The BIGGEST helps to me right now are:
dividing the project into smaller sections by "utility" quilting some straight rows both horizontally and vertically. The quilt is stabilized and you can think in smaller units.
thinking a snake trail through the section I am quilting.
cactus shapes

Have to admit I haven't read every post so not sure if this has been mentioned. A trick one of my quilt teachers taught me when I'm struggling to get a rhythm established is to hum the "Skater's Waltz". It has such a smooth rhythm, has 1-2-3 count and also has a calming effect. It really does work!